Are lgbt people indeed at higher risk of contracting and spreading sexually transmittable infections and diseases? Does this speculation hold water?
Jonna AugustNew You
Is it true that lgbt people have increased risk of contracting some diseases and infections?
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It is not only prevalent in the gay community. I have seen more women than men with HIV. These women contracted it from their straight husbands and boyfriends who contracted it from prostitutes or other men. So, don’t feel so safe by thinking it is only prevalent in the gay population. Of all the men I have seen, most were IV drug users, which is how they contracted it. Of course, some where gay as well. The thing is- that it doesn’t matter. They were all just as ill. HIV is not a gay thing, it is a people thing. In an HIV clinic, upon my first visit I saw all sorts of individuals. Rich, poor, White, Black, Asian, etc. It doesn’t discriminate. They all want to be able to live and function as normally as possible and they deserve that regardless of how they contracted it. HIV is in any community and all communities. Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
The only effective way to transmit the HIV virus is direct blood to blood transfer.
When people engage in anal sex there is always some tearing of the rectal blood vessels. The HIV virus present in semen therefore has direct transmission into the blood stream of the uninfected partner. Hence, the susceptibility in gay men but also in heterosexual partners who engage in anal sex.
However, sharing of needles by drug users is also a big transmission mode, especially nowadays in less developed countries.